#1. NOPI Nats replacement *UPDATE*

#2. Look around. Part of the blame for this lies with all of us when we don't SUPPORT local shows, both small and large. For the last few years, turn out at shows has been dismal, including Nopi Nats. Why? I'm sure there are lots of reasons, but to be honest you have to look at it from both sides too. If I were NOPI, would I go deep in the red just to save face and put on a show that I KNOW I will lose money at? As a business owner, the answer is no. As an enthusiast, the answer is not so easy. We've lost HIN for the same reason, and it left way befor all the economy stuff happened. They left because cost vs attendance just didn't make economic sense. True enough they weren't the smoothest organization to work with, but the bottomline is that if you lose money year after year....decisions have to be made. I'm not condoning leaving sponsors, racers, and fans hanging.....but that's the economic view of this situation.

I've gone to NOPI Nats for the last 6 yrs. I've seen the crowds die down steadily. So much so that last year I personally heard people talking and prospecting that NOPI was on the way out. So the writing has been on the wall for a while. A lot of racers saw it coming too. Look at what happened when the very first race of the season was in OUR backyard......we got a terrible turn out. Yes, the weather didn't help, but I don't think they would've had a full house even in 80 degree super sunny weather anyway. So, where was the local support there? Don't know. But you can't complain too much if you didn't atleast try to support them while they were in our own backyard.

#3. There are tons of local shows that people could attend. No, they're not full of half naked women and gawdy cars, but they're there. IF you really want to compete, then there is an avenue. If you go to the Nats to hang out and see your friends, then that's the only place where you really lose. I know I saw tons of people only at the Nats.